250 WATERSIDE SKETCHES. 



him on introducing the great live-bait question. This he 

 maintained was the question of the day, and though he 

 hesitated to commit himself to a definite statement, he 

 broadly hinted that Government must sooner or later take 

 it up. Giving head to the righteous indignation which 

 rippled through his voice he graphically depicted the 

 mingled horror, disgust, and disappointment suffered by 

 honest anglers who were unable to secure live-bait for love 

 or money. A pretty state of things, forsooth ! Here were 

 hundreds of fine fellows who spend the Sunday meditating 

 calmly by the murmuring river, and innocently angling, 

 who must be robbed of their enjoyment if the fishing tackle 

 shops could not procure live-bait. If there were laws 

 -against the capture of small fish let the laws be altered ; 

 what was the use of Government if the wants of the people 

 were not supplied ? The author of these ideas of political 

 economy worked himself into such a passion that his five 

 minutes had expired before he could arrive at the one or 

 two practical suggestions he intended to make. 



The gentleman next in order trolled a song (written by 

 Mr. G. Manville Fenn) which was twice encored, for it 

 was new and bright and capitally rendered : 



THE FISHING PHILOSOPHER. 



" To tramp the wet turnips, and pepper a bird ; 

 Or butcher tame pheasants to me seems absurd : 

 Give me the soft streamlet, meandering by, 

 Where I can take trout with a well-chosen fly : 



"And my rod light and limber, my line true and fine, 

 My creel on my back, and a scrap when I'd dine ; 

 Sweet Nature around me ; the world's troubles far ; 

 Believe me we fishers philosophers are ! 



